Pence signs executive order to shorten ISTEP

Gov. Mike Pence announced Monday he has signed an executive order to shorten this year's ISTEP test.

That's good news — in theory, say local superintendents.

But what's not so good is that just three weeks before Indiana students take the first portion of the ISTEP, Pence is potentially asking for drastic changes to be made to the upcoming test.

"The main concern is that here we are three weeks out from taking a test — the 'high stakes test' — that grades students, grades schools, provides for teacher and principal pay, and we aren't quite sure what to expect," said Tippecanoe School Corp. Superintendent Scott Hanback. "It takes time to build class schedules in order to take time out from the normal day to conduct standardized testing."

The order puts more stress on an already stressful year; it wasn't until weeks into the school year that teachers first got a look at the new state standards their students will be tested on this spring.

As the J&C reported Feb. 3, schools were informed two weeks ago students and teachers would see a dramatic increase in the length of time required for students to complete this year's test. The test, formerly around six hours long, will now take in some cases more than 12 hours to complete.

Pence's executive order instructs the Office of Management and Budget to retain a national expert or experts to analyze the ISTEP and make recommendations on how to shorten the test.

"Doubling the length of the ISTEP+ test is unacceptable and I won't stand for it," Pence said.

The Republican governor placed the blame for the lengthy test on the Indiana Department of Education, led by State Superintendent Glenda Ritz, a Democrat. Pence and the State Board of Education have said the IDOE failed to pilot this year's test last fall, contributing to its length.

Pence criticized the situation as a byproduct of dysfunction between the state board and the IDOE and again voiced his support for bills in the House and Senate that would enable state board members to strip Ritz of her position as state board chair.

A spokesman for Ritz says she wants to discuss ways "to ease testing stress" on the upcoming test.

Prior to Pence's announcement, Ritz on Monday requested a special meeting of the State Board of Education to discuss the test. The date of that meeting has not been set.

Shortly after Pence's announcement, Lafayette School Corp. Superintendent Les Huddle said it's hard to judge whether Pence's move is good news for students without seeing more details.

"It appears on the surface to be good news, certainly better than lengthening the test," Huddle said. "The unfortunate thing about it is here we are literally three weeks or so away from the first weeks we're going to take these exams and we're making adjustments again."

"Too bad they were shortsighted not to have considered this, say, six months ago when we educators brought this up to them," Killion said, referring to state lawmakers. "I hope some day the legislators will start listening and responding to the education practitioners rather than waiting until the 11th hour to do something.

"Again, our kids end up being the political football only to be kicked around by those in power."